MOA Report post Posted January 11, 2011 What tools are required for making holsters? i'm new to this and the forum, made a couple just to figure out patterns. But what i need is tools. So, what do I need? Heres a list of what I think I need, help meto find good tools. buy once buy right. 1 stitching awl(I'm using a scrib from lowes...) 2 good needles 3 bevler 4 stitching gouge 5 boning tool 6 burnishing tool(I can use a dowl for this right?) 7 stitch roller/spacer I don't have a leather sop near buy, so i'll probley order on line. I want stuff that will last. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TexasJack Report post Posted January 12, 2011 I once asked a knifemaker and supplier what I needed to make a knife. His answer: "Desire". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGGUNDOCTOR Report post Posted January 12, 2011 (edited) Hello MOA, Depends on what type of holsters that you intend to make. The basics would be leather, knife, and lacing ,or needle and thread. The fancier you get the more, or different tools you may want/need to accomplish what you want to do. Fancy tools do not make a better item, craftsmanship does. Some tools will make some jobs easier, but they don't neccessarilly have to be used to get great results. Old West Concealment rigs LEO gear Competition Reproductions There are lots of different holsters with different ways to make each. A little more clarity will help us help you. Edited January 12, 2011 by BIGGUNDOCTOR Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MOA Report post Posted January 12, 2011 Right now I'm working on concealment rigs, both IWB and pancake. I do want to eventually make western rigs too. I have desire, I made a pretty ok looking OWB for my brother out of scrap leather, a wood scribe, thread and needle from hobby lobby and mt trusty Benchmade pocket knife for the cutting/trimming. I wet formed it, hand molded it, then used a sharpie to get some of the detail. I used the benchmade at a angle to bevel the edges, and sand paper and denim scraps to burnish em. It looks ok for my first holster ever. Now I know I need to measure for every stitch, mine varry by a 1/16" or so, and I know I need a stitching awl. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
treadhead1952 Report post Posted January 12, 2011 Right now I'm working on concealment rigs, both IWB and pancake. I do want to eventually make western rigs too. I have desire, I made a pretty ok looking OWB for my brother out of scrap leather, a wood scribe, thread and needle from hobby lobby and mt trusty Benchmade pocket knife for the cutting/trimming. I wet formed it, hand molded it, then used a sharpie to get some of the detail. I used the benchmade at a angle to bevel the edges, and sand paper and denim scraps to burnish em. It looks ok for my first holster ever. Now I know I need to measure for every stitch, mine varry by a 1/16" or so, and I know I need a stitching awl. Hi MOA, I have made more than a few holsters of various types. My basic tools list would definitely include a C.S. Osborne Stitching Awl, short, incredibly sharp, and four sided so that you can angle it to get the best stitching angles as you work around the various parts of the holster. The handle is also nicely shaped and can be used to burnish edges as well. An adjustable Groover like the one sold by Tandy is also excellent to cut a groove in the edges of your holster project to sink the stitching into to protect it as well as offer a guide to lay out your stitches. While not necessary, if you are having trouble laying out the stitches, a pounce wheel set like Tandy's is also available. It has interchangeable wheels so you can pick out different numbers of holes per inch. It marks the spots to stab with the Awl for your needles to go through. Good Harness Needles to do your stitching with are easily obtained from Tandy as well. If you want a groove on the back side of the project, wait until you stab the holes through the front side of the project before you attempt to lay the second groove. Invariably, if you try to lay out the back side groove then stab the holes, some of them will fall outside the groove and spoil the look of your project. A Stitching Horse to hold your project while you hand sew it is also a nice addition. It frees your hands up, lets you work the needles back and forth through the stitch lines and lets you keep tension on the thread all at the same time. You can either buy one or build one, your choice depending on how handy you are in the shop. Jay treadhead1952 Las Vegas, NV Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGGUNDOCTOR Report post Posted January 13, 2011 Hello Treadhead1952 from another (close to) Las Vegas denizen. Would you happen to be the gentleman I talked with in Tandy last Saturday, and told about LW.net? MOA, looks like you are getting some good info now. When you get going don't forget to post some pics of your work . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
treadhead1952 Report post Posted January 13, 2011 Hello Treadhead1952 from another (close to) Las Vegas denizen. Would you happen to be the gentleman I talked with in Tandy last Saturday, and told about LW.net? MOA, looks like you are getting some good info now. When you get going don't forget to post some pics of your work . Hi BGDr., While I will admit to haunting the local Tandy store, I don't recall talking to anyone but the two ladies who run the store. On Saturday afternoon I did dash in briefly to snag a Mini Punch set only to find that the kind folks who shipped the five sets to them last Saturday decided to hold the order up until Monday. I found the site here searching on the browser. But it is nice to run into another desert native in the same neck of the woods, or should I say cactus patch. Jay treadhead1952 Las Vegas, NV Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGGUNDOCTOR Report post Posted January 13, 2011 I posted last year in hopes of getting a roll call of members in the Las Vegas area, but it didn't go any farther then myself. I know that there is a gal who does custom motorcycle seats on here too, but other than her I haven't seen anyone else. Don't want to hijack this thread, so I may fire up that old post to see if anyone bites this time around. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
treadhead1952 Report post Posted January 13, 2011 I posted last year in hopes of getting a roll call of members in the Las Vegas area, but it didn't go any farther then myself. I know that there is a gal who does custom motorcycle seats on here too, but other than her I haven't seen anyone else. Don't want to hijack this thread, so I may fire up that old post to see if anyone bites this time around. Sounds like a plan to me, I'll keep my eyes open. Jay treadhead1952 Las Vegas, NV Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MOA Report post Posted January 13, 2011 Sounds like I can et most everything from Tandy leather and not to much I need to get a better start. Thanks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
treadhead1952 Report post Posted January 14, 2011 Hi MOA, Since they have as many stores as they do all over the country, it is hard to go wrong to start with them for your first projects. I know that there are a host of excellent tool makers out there and just about everyone will eventually find the ones that suit them best if they stay in the business long enough. If you don't have a copy of it already, Al Stohlman's big book on "How to Make Holsters" for around $10 to $12 is a good bet as well. Not only does it provide you with several actual full sized patterns and decorating suggestions in the photo carve line of things, it is a pretty good primer on how to make patterns for just about any handgun out there on your own and accomplish them if you read it closely enough. And like the Biggundoctor sez, show us some photos of your projects when you get one started. Good luck. Jay treadhead1952 Las Vegas, NV Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MOA Report post Posted January 14, 2011 Will do on the pics as soon as I get one started. What isthe best stitching awl? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
treadhead1952 Report post Posted January 15, 2011 Will do on the pics as soon as I get one started. What isthe best stitching awl? Hi MOA, If you can find one at a Tandy store or go online to the CS Osborne website, the basic stitching awl by CS Osborne is a hard choice to beat. That is a picture of mine in the photo I posted up above. They cost anywhere from $10 to $15 depending on the model you chose and where you purchase it from. Here is a link to the CS Osborne website so you can check things out for yourself. https://www.osborneleathertools.com/ Jay treadhead1952 Las Vegas, NV Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ellen Report post Posted February 5, 2011 I once asked a knifemaker and supplier what I needed to make a knife. His answer: "Desire". I wish it was so. Try to do that without tools, materials and make a high end knife, not a sharpened spoon or hacksaw blade knife. :Sad: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted February 5, 2011 The best awl is by Bob Douglas. Period. The Osborne awls are decent, cost effective, and readily available. But they aren't quite the same as a Bob Douglas. His don't need to be sharpened 'out of the box'. Then again, starting out, you don't need to spend a lot of money on a single tool. Regarding an awl: Go ahead and plan to pick up two. It'll save a trip if you ever break one, as that's what happened to me. However, the broken awl isn't necessarily a piece of trash. I inadvertently bent the tip on mine and when trying to straighten it, snapped it off....just about in the middle. I used a lighter to warm the blade and loosen the glue, then pulled the remaining bit of the awl out of the haft. Then I reprofiled the broken part with a file and turned it into a bridle awl...which has the diamond cross section, but is only about half as big as the osborne. Your awl should be scary sharp at the point. The sides should not be sharpened, only profiled. I'm linking a thread which you should find useful, click on the picture in post # 8 to see a good example of the different sizes of awl blades and the holes they make. click me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
